Just diagnosed three days ago

After having first been diagnosed with asthma and being put on albuterol treatments and inhalers which caused my heart to race like crazy...then being diagnosed with AFIB and having both a cardioconversion and an ablation done (which did correct the afib).. None of this did anything for my shortness of breath, cough and lower back pain.

I changed cardiologists after my first one disappeared and he has been really aggressive in trying to help me. I had a CT scan done last week and low and behold I have a 4.75 AAA....I don't know if its better to know this or its better to not know. I'm so nervous about doing anything now.

I will be seeing a thoracic surgeon sometime this next week. I'm almost hoping he chooses surgery. I've dealt with shortness of breath, etc for over 1 1/2 years now. I'm tired all the time. I can get up at 8am and be back in bed my 11am and sleep another 3 hours. I hate this. My quality of life sucks! I'm 67 years old and this past 1 1/2 I've felt like a very old woman, which I know I'm not. Before all this hit me, I was a waitress in a restaurant here in town for almost 15 years. People marveled at the fact that I could run circles around the younger girls and I loved it. But, the last 6 months before I retired, I noticed my breathing was different and my back hurt. That's when I started seeking help. But its taken to this point to find this out...

I'm hoping that because I have significant symptoms that maybe he will opt for fixing it. I know the surgery will be rough, but if I get my life back, it will be worth it.

hello Mia

I also am 67, and the quality of my life at times can suck also. Due to mainly chronic episodes of PVCs and PACs. My current episode started up last night at supper and continued through the night and still now, they are bothersome.

They go away for awhile and then they come back, without any warning. It does take away from the quality of your life.

But there is support and wisdom here and like JungRulz, I wish you well and all the luck.